Canning with Mom

Yesterday my mom and I "put up" some cucumbers and peppers. We made a tonne of yum yum pickles, two jars of pickled jalapenos and two jars of pickled banana peppers. We also made 5 pints of pickled beets last week. Pictures of the jalapenos to come - my camera battery ran out just as I was trying to take the last picture.

A productive day. Next on the agenda - tomato sauce - with carrots, peppers and zuchinni!

Garden Roundup

I had some time tonight to spend in the garden. The raised garden beds have been very productive this year - especially the peppers! My hubby loves his peppers and he wanted to try growing a variety this year. We harvested ancho chilis, habanero peppers, banana peppers, jalapenos, and bell peppers. Thank goodness the rabbits don't have a taste for peppers! I'll be turning the bell peppers into tomato sauce and freezing for stir fry veg and pickling the jalapenos and banana peppers. I am at a loss of what to do with the anchos and habaneros. Friends have suggested to try to dry the anchos and then grind up to put in chili etc. If you have suggestions, please share!

Yellow banana peppers, dark green anchos, light green jalapenos

I also grew six different varieties of tiny tomatoes - Juliet (grape tomato), Yellow Pear, Tumbler, Sunsugar (I think they are called), Sweet 100 and Sweet Million. I plan on making sun dried tomatoes with some of the small ones and of course they are perfect for snacking on or for bruschetta! I planted all of these in containers hanging in baskets or on the deck. It's been a bumper crop!




I also have several varietes in my garden (Manitoba, Celebrity, Roma, Fantastic, Early Girl). Maybe a few more - I forget now! The rabbits have been eating the ripe tomatoes so unfortunately no vine ripened tomatoes for me this summer. I have been picking them in at the first site of orange! I will spite those rabbits if it is the death of me!


The cucumber corner is full with cukes too - slicing, pickling and long english.


Tomorrow my mom is coming over and we will get to pickling the bounty! The beets have been pickled already - yum! Love pickled beets!

Harvesting the Bounty

Well it's that time of year - time to harvest the bounty from the garden. A bumper crop of cucumbers and peppers calls for attention! Pickles, pickled jalapenos and banana peppers are on the menu. I plan to make tomato sauce using zuchinni, onions, tomatos and peppers from the garden. The beets have been harvested and pickled as well.

I found a recipe to make sun dried tomatoes and will try this recipe with my tumbler and juliet tomatoes. I have basil drying in the oven now using the method I used last year.

Unfortunately the beans and peas were decimated by the rabbits this year. Only little stumps left. The carrots have been chewed down and I don't have much hope for them either. Probably enough to make some carrots and dip!

What plans do you have with your garden produce this year?